The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, operating under the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI). The partnership aims to develop innovative AI-driven solutions to bolster the sustainability and growth of family-owned enterprises across the emirate.
Signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2025, the agreement was formalised by H.E. Khaled Abdulkarim Al Fahim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Family Business Council, and Professor Timothy Baldwin, Provost of MBZUAI. This collaboration is set to integrate artificial intelligence across crucial business functions including management, governance, and strategic decision-making.
A Strategic Alliance For Digital Transformation
This partnership is designed to accelerate the digital readiness of family businesses, enabling them to adopt advanced AI solutions. The core objectives are to enhance operational efficiency, secure long-term sustainability, and strengthen their competitive edge in future-focused industries.
A key outcome of the collaboration will be the development of sophisticated AI-powered advisory tools. These tools will assist family businesses in elevating their operational performance, improving governance standards, and fortifying their capacity for strategic expansion and growth.
Reflecting on the agreement, H.E. Khaled Al Fahim stated, “This collaboration represents a significant step toward enabling family businesses to benefit from the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and strengthening their readiness for the economy of the future. The agreement aligns with the Council’s vision to support the sustainability of family enterprises and enhance their institutional capabilities.”
Building The Next Generation of Tech-Savvy Leaders
A significant component of the agreement focuses on human capital development. Both organizations will jointly create and deliver specialised workshops and training programmes. These initiatives are tailored to transfer critical knowledge and equip the next generation of family business leaders with the necessary skills to understand and leverage advanced technologies for their enterprises’ development.
Furthermore, the partnership will explore joint opportunities in applied research, specifically targeting the development of advanced models to support complex challenges like succession planning and the management of family capital.
Aligning With National AI Ambitions
The initiative directly supports the UAE’s broader strategic goals, including the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a fully AI-native government.
Professor Timothy Baldwin commented on the partnership’s national significance, “This collaboration reflects MBZUAI’s role in supporting priority sectors across the nation through artificial intelligence. As the UAE advances its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031… it is essential that organizations, including family businesses, which remain an important pillar of the economy, have access to the tools and expertise needed to harness AI in ways that deliver broad and meaningful societal benefit.”
As part of the agreement, the two entities will also conduct a feasibility study for the creation of an integrated AI system dedicated specifically to serving the family business sector in Abu Dhabi.
About Abu Dhabi Family Business Council
The Abu Dhabi Family Business Council operates under the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its primary mission is to enhance the competitiveness and ensure the sustainability of family enterprises in the Emirate, fostering an innovation-driven ecosystem that supports business longevity across generations and contributes to Abu Dhabi’s economic vision.
About MBZUAI
The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is a graduate-level, research-based academic institution located in Abu Dhabi. As the world’s first university solely dedicated to AI, it plays a pivotal role in advancing AI research, development, and knowledge transfer to support the UAE’s priority economic sectors.
Source: Zawya
